I am sure you have heard of the seven stages of grief, but just in case you haven’t, I will provide a list of them below:

1. Shock and denial
2. Pain and guilt
3. Anger and bargaining
4. Depression
5. The upward turn
6. Reconstruction and working through
7. Acceptance and hope

Now that we have covered what the seven stages of grief specifically are, let us now delve into how this may apply to us, and our lives. Keep in mind, that these seven stages are rarely in order. One moment you could be in denial, then the next you could feel depressed, then you sense hope, and maybe go back to the pain. Healing is never linear, but that is why we have Jesus who will be right by our side every step of the way. I have to be honest, I have been struggling with a loss and have been going through the stages of grief, and the only thing that has truly been able to bring me comfort is Jesus. Every time I feel that pain coming back on, or the anger being sparked, I open the Word of God and start reading and I cannot even express the immense comfort I feel when reading. That comfort from Jesus actually is the reason I am writing this blog post for you all today.

Starting off with step 1: shock and denial. I have to admit, during my time of experiencing shock and denial, it can really take a toll on not only your mind, but your well-being. It can lead to confusion and hurt which you will probably go through later on, or at the same time. What does God give us in His Word that can give us that comfort during this time of shock and denial?

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NIV).

Step 2: pain and guilt. As I am writing this, I can admit this is the step where I am at and it hurts. Honestly all parts of the grieving process isn’t fun (except for acceptance), but it is necessary to feel and go through. Let us read a verse that can give us comfort during this time of pain and guilt we may be experiencing:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 NIV).

Step 3: anger and bargaining. This is usually the stage where you may feel quite on edge and start lashing out on others, or even blaming others for the loss that you are suffering from. Let us read a verse from the Word of God that can help remind us to be slow to anger, and instead of lashing out on our loved ones, we let our emotions out in a healthy way by letting it all out to God and allowing Him to fill our hearts with His peace.

“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly” (Proverbs 14:29 NIV).

This verse speaks to me as I have noticed that whenever I make decisions based on anger, it never goes anywhere and the majority of the time I am saying something I do not mean, or something that is not productive and hurts the other person. That is why this verse speaks volumes as it goes a long way being patient and not allowing the anger to control you.

Step 4: depression. This can be a super hard stage as for me it ends up with me not wanting to do anything and isolating myself and as much as it is valid and necessary to feel the emotions, you cannot let them consume you. Let us read a verse that can bring us comfort and motivation to get us out of this stage of depression and bring us closer to acceptance.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NIV).

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4 NIV).

Step 5: The upward turn. This is usually the stage where you feel at a more calm and relax state. The pain, depression, and/or anger has dissipated and you are filled with peace. You usually are in the homestretch of going into the acceptance stage, but keep in mind, these are never in order, so there is always a chance for sadness to creep back in of course. That is the thing with healing, it is never linear.

“I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid” (John 14:27 ERV).

Step 6: Reconstruction and working through. This is the stage where you start working towards ways to put your life back together and start heading towards the stage of acceptance.

“I can do all this through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13 NIV).

God will give us the strength and courage to reconstruct our lives back to what they need to be in order to fully heal you from the grief that you have been going through for so long. There is light at the end of the tunnel with Jesus by your side, and He will help you reach the finish line if you just grab onto His hand to lead the way.

Step 7: Acceptance and hope. The final stage of the grieving process. This is the stage where you will typically feel excited and hopeful for the possibility of what’s to come in the future. You start to come to terms with this new way of life and are grateful for how far you have come with God by your side every step of the way.

“‘I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.’ This message is from the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future’” (Jeremiah 29:11 ERV).

This pain you feel is only temporary. During time of grieving and/or healing, Jesus is who we need to cling onto the most. Jesus knows the plans He has for you, as stated above. He will be your calm amidst the storm you are currently facing. He will guide you towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Trust in Him during this time of grieving, and find comfort in the Word of God. God will never leave you, nor forsake you. He loves you unconditionally. Just open your heart to Him, and He will handle the rest. May God be with us all during not only the good, but the hard times as well.

Amen.